Shaheen Bagh – a Muslim neighbourhood near the Jamia Millia Islamia University has now become an iconic, exemplary inspiration for people protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) throughout the country.
The protest at Shaheen Bagh is led by women, who with children in tow, have been sitting under a multi-colored canopy, staging a peaceful protest for a month now. Undeterred by strong arm tactics of the government, the sisters of Shaheen Bagh look after each other and now their protests has reached other corners of the country, sprouting other Shaheen Bagh’s everywhere.
In what can be termed as one of the longest protests since Independence, since the announcement of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) becoming an Act, men and women are occupying parks, maidans and roads to register their protest.
One such protest that started four days ago is being staged at Roshan Bagh in Allahabad. Sarah Ahmed one of the protestors spoke to The Telegraph saying, “If sisters are sitting in protest at Shaheen Bagh, why can’t Roshan Bagh sisters do the same?”
It is very brave of the women of Roshan Bagh to come out to the streets, especially after the brutal crackdown of the UP police and government on protestors across the state on December 19 in which more than 15 people were killed.
Roshan Bagh, Allahabad .
Today is 4th day pic.twitter.com/cQoKpkEllh
— Tanzeem Ahmad ?? (@imtanzeemahmad) January 15, 2020
“Every protest is being crushed in UP and we’ve been enduring it. Har baar toh aisa nahi ho sakta, kahin na kahin se toh chingari nikalti hi hai. Aur yeh Roshan Bagh wahi chingari hai (This cannot continue, a spark is ought to emerge from somewhere. Roshan Bagh is that spark),” said Ahmed.
In Kolkata, Shaheen Bagh 2.0 has erupted in the predominantly Muslim neighborhood of Park Circus. CM Mamata Banerjee has held protests there and the area has seen massive women-led protests against the CAA. Women and children armed with placards, shouting slogans and singing songs of grit and determination can be found not giving up their fight for justice.
Their fight is not just against the CAA and NRC tells Nousheen Baba Khan to The Telegraph. Their fight is also a silent one for breaking gender barriers, making a mostly male-dominated area their own. “Who are these women? They are those who live in slums, and affluent localities; many are students – but all have gathered here to protest, to break taboos and inspire others,” says Nousheen.
Park Circus today.
The woman in the second picture came on a wheel chair, with the national flag. This is Inquilab ✊???#Kolkata #ParkCircus #CAA_NRC_Protests pic.twitter.com/PcGbfVQrB1— Anti CAA-NRC-NPR (@porcoofine) January 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/
In Bihar too, various snippets of the Shaheen Bagh protest can be seen at Patna’s Sabzibagh, Gaya’S Shanti Bagh and in towns of Kishanganj, Bahadurganj and Gopalganj. Braving the bitter cold, protestors, political activists and student leaders have gathered to voice their displeasure against the CAA-NPR-NRC.
Sabzibagh, patna Bihar#हर_शहर_शाहीन_बाग pic.twitter.com/N4rUtxBV8n
— Yaasir Arafat Khan (@YaasirKhan2) January 15, 2020
Women protesting at #ShaheenBagh, Delhi against #CAA_NRC.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/qYAOqKWKIX— ???? ????? (@karmariaz) January 14, 2020
Massive gathering against CAA NPR NRC in presence of our guest speaker @jigneshmevani80 at Mazar Chowk #Kishanganj_Bihar#IndiaRejectsCAA_NRC_NPR @khanumarfa @PJkanojia @RanaAyyub @ndtv pic.twitter.com/vf42FAc4b0
— Affan Yezdani(عفّان یزدانی) (@yezdaniaffan) January 16, 2020
है जुर्म अगर वतन कि मिट्टी से मोहब्बत
यह जुर्म सदा मेरे हिसाबों में रहेगा!#CAA_NRC_Protest
Bahadurganj,Kishanganj
Bihar pic.twitter.com/8zF1deg5hr— SHAHANSHAH (@Shahans82160780) January 11, 2020
“Shaheen Bagh has become the face of ongoing protests and galvanized people. In solidarity, we’ve started protests in Kishanganj as well so that it continues to inspire people,” said Abu Affan Farooquee, an advocate from Kishanganj to The Telegraph.
In Pune’s Kondhwa, slogans of ‘Hum kya chahte, azaadi?’, ‘Inquilab Zindabaad’ and ‘Samvidhaan Bachao’ resonate in the air as the protestors take a leaf out of the Shaheen Bagh protests.
@caa_pune @JIHMaharashtra @ReallySwara @FahadTISS @RichaChadha Mehandi Activity at #ShaheenBagh in Kondhwa,Pune pic.twitter.com/30Rlj9zHPI
— Dr. Amna Shabi (@AmnaShabiRahman) January 16, 2020
It’s day 6 of their protest, women at Pune on indefinite strike against #CAA #NRC #NPR . They have made another Shaheen Baugh at Pune’s Kondhwa. #CAA_NRCProtests pic.twitter.com/uI93NMQ8gD
— Ali shaikh (@alishaikh3310) January 15, 2020
Protests like these are also taking place in Jaipur’s Albert Hall, Raipur’s Jaistambh Chowk and Delhi’s Khureji.
The Indefinite Strike against the CAA, NPR and NRC led by Women continues in these places across the Country [2]?
Shanti Bag, Gaya(Bihar),
Dhoole, Maharashtra,
Madhubani Bihar,
Ararya, Bihar,
Albert Hall, Ramnivas Bag, Jaipur,
Iqbal Maidan, Bhopal#हर_शहर_शाहीन_बाग pic.twitter.com/dUpDZE3TZ4— Khawar Jawaid (@KhawarJawaid) January 15, 2020
Handful of gathered here for a day got the news coverage and all. But the people gathering in Raipur’s (CG’s capital) main chowk(Jaistambh Chowk) since the last 9days and not a single mainstream media covered it. This is the reason why people call them GODI MEDIA. https://t.co/2nH2YAX4wi pic.twitter.com/FboNOCcp3U
— ??????? (ex-Prof.) (@theHasnainRaza) January 14, 2020
तेरे गुरुर को जलायेगी वो आग हूँ,
आकर देख मुझे मैं delhi khureji शाहीन बाग हूँ!# delhi khureji ShaheenBaghProtest #NRC_CAA_Protest pic.twitter.com/59RQjO4bXW
— Shaikh Zishan (@ShaikhZ97911401) January 15, 2020
However, what is most important to be kept in mind that these protests that have come to be born in mostly Muslim areas aren’t just seeing participation from Muslims. Amid staunch threats from the police and state administrations, people from all religions, castes, creeds and socio-economic strata have stood in unity against the fascist Modi government.